Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'd like to replace the treble tone pot on my 4001V63 with a push/pull pot to bypass the cap on the HS pickup (as in post 2006 4003's). I checked out the Rick boutique for the push/pull pot they offer. The picture of the pot looks like the switch part is shorter than the regular push/pull pots being sold on the market. As the control cavity is not quite deep in 4001/4003 basses, I'm not sure if a standard push/pull pot would fit in there. The pictures may be misleading though, so I'm unsure about that. Can anybody who has purchased that particular pot from the boutique tell me whether or not the switch part is shorter than normal?

Does your 4001V63 already have the .0047µf cap in line with the HS pickup?

I've installed them in a 4000 and 4001 with no issues.....

Jeff asks a great question. Stock V63s do not have the .0047uF cap in them.

johnallg wrote:Jeff asks a great question. Stock V63s do not have the .0047uF cap in them.

+1. I added one to mine, non switching.

ig55 wrote:I'm not sure if a standard push/pull pot would fit in there.

It wouldn't fit in my 4001FL either so I used Blue Angel's Fender "No-Load" variation on this mod instead. It works just as good and being able to only partially select the cap is really cool.

The RIC part fitted in my 72/3 Frankenrick.... The depth of the cavity varies somewhat from year to year.....or maybe from bass to bass....

Frankenrick sounds at its best with the cap in circuit and all the pots wide open.

Evan's correct. Some need a bit of deepening in that area. Usually about 1/16" at most.

It’s an Alpha 16mm pot with push/pull (only the one from Ric has different solder lugs)
http://www.banzaimusic.com/Alpha-16-DPDT-500k-log.html
If the lip at the bottom of the switch is cut off, it needs a cavity depth of 25.5-26.0 mm

jps wrote:Does your 4001V63 already have the .0047µf cap in line with the HS pickup?

Jeff, I've already installed a cheap .0047µf cap I bought from a local store, just to see what it sounds like. I liked the capped sound and got myself an orange drop cap to replace the cheap one. I also want a push/pull pot, cause the HS sounds great without the cap, too. Both sounds are very good, I don't want to miss either...

Wiker wrote:It’s an Alpha 16mm pot with push/pull (only the one from Ric has different solder lugs)
http://www.banzaimusic.com/Alpha-16-DPDT-500k-log.html
If the lip at the bottom of the switch is cut off, it needs a cavity depth of 25.5-26.0 mm

Thx for the info. I'll measure the cavity depth to check if that will fit. So, you say that one has identical dimensions with the one sold by Rick, right?

I had to Dremel out a little spot on my 79. Easy cheesy ********.

ig55 wrote:

Wiker wrote:It’s an Alpha 16mm pot with push/pull (only the one from Ric has different solder lugs)
http://www.banzaimusic.com/Alpha-16-DPDT-500k-log.html
If the lip at the bottom of the switch is cut off, it needs a cavity depth of 25.5-26.0 mm

Thx for the info. I'll measure the cavity depth to check if that will fit. So, you say that one has identical dimensions with the one sold by Rick, right?

The Alpha pot is the one sold by Ric, only that the version of that pot sold by Ric has different solder lugs.

Btw, viewtopic.php?f=13&t=394294

I checked out the other topic (sorry for the double post btw ). The MEC pot looks quite safe, given the depth issues.

ig55 wrote:I checked out the other topic (sorry for the double post btw ). The MEC pot looks quite safe, given the depth issues.

That’s cool. Just thought that other thread might interest you.

Yes, those MEC pots are nice. The plastic parts in them don’t like much heat though, and I’ve ruined a couple due to soldering on and off a few times to test out different stuff.
And, well, those small square pots are very un-Rickenbackerish if you know what I mean It’s all hidden under the pickguard, but still, for my own satisfaction I might want to redo my wiring some day with proper CTS pots and Alpha/Ric push/pull.